Hello from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania!

[msarro]

Hi everyone!
I've loved and admired orchids for years but never worked up the courage to purchase one (I was "sure" they were far "too difficult" for me).

Well, last year my wife was gifted a mini phal, and it broke the floodgates. We now have 4 phals (1 mini NOID, 2 flower shop NOIDs, 1 sogo x yenlin "coffee" varigata). I've got a laundry list of other orchids I would like to add to my collection - I'm currently pursuing phalaenopsis orchids with interesting foliage.

I'm excited to learn more about the orchid fancy! I'm also curious to expand beyond phalaenopsis (once I've gotten my "list" phals in my collection), so any tips on "next steps" would be appreciated.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

When contemplating any new plant, make sure you can give it what it needs:

• Do some reading before buying anything. For species orchids I always start with the Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia (IOSPE.)
• For hybrids I look them up on orchidroots.com. If I'm unsure about requirements of ancestors, I then look them up on IOSPE.
• Use the Search function in the top maroon menu here to see what others have posted about the plant.

Define your growing area:

• How big is it? Surface area for pots, height?
• Day/night temperatures through the year?
• Relative humidity through the year?
• How will you water? Carry them to the sink, or spill water all over the furniture and carpet?
• What happens when you want another plant and don't have space?

Define how much time you have for plants!!! Your wife won't be as happy about the plants if regular chores aren't getting done.

[msarro]

Thank you for those links! I'm actually diving into that first one right now to look into phalaenopsis schilleriana.

Thankfully I telecommute right now, so I have plenty of time to work, get chores done, and take care of plants (they've become my way of making my home office more comfortable).

Re space: I am in the process of building a small Ikea greenhouse now, I just need to get my hands on the cabinet

Until then, I've only got a few small spots where I can grow *anything*, though I have some grow lights speckled through the house to help! Still, it will be nice to have all of my orchids in one spot eventually!

[tmoney]

hey there, fellow beginner here going on the journey with my significant other as well. a couple things ive found helpful:

go online orchid shopping with your spouse. this not only makes sure you get plants she will like and take an interest in, but also may save you from going clothes shopping together! i hate that, clothes shopping, that is.

second, get to know the different designations if you don’t already. i mean blooming size, vs seedling. young plant, etc. this will save both of you some initial disappointment.

finally, i would suggest getting some nice, new cross seedlings as well as mature bloomers. this way you get some immediate gratification with the flowers, but also gives you a different take on orchid growing with the seedlings, and a lot of unknown with what they may eventually flower into. i personally find that quite exciting.

oh, and one last thought, if you have the orchid fever, lock up the credit card and throw away the key!!

[Ray]

Welcome aboard!

I lived in Doylestown for a long time. Look into Main Street Orchids in Perkasie. He’s about a mile west of 313. Mike is a really good guy and a tremendous enabler…. Definitely give him a call, as who knows what the pandemic mess has done to his situation.

[rbarata]

Welcome, msarro.

Thankfully I telecommute right now, so I have plenty of time to work, get chores done, and take care of plants (they've become my way of making my home office more comfortable).

Careful when buying too many or to demanding plants. Think that one day your telecommute finishes and ask yourself if your plants can handle less attention.

[Paphluvr]

Welcome to the Orchid Board from someone born on the other side of the river (Fountain Hill, what was then St. Lukes). I still consider Bethlehem my home town, though.

[DeaC]

and welcome. Yes...read and read more. Know your growing conditions and stick to it!

[msarro]

Originally Posted by tmoney

hey there, fellow beginner here going on the journey with my significant other as well. a couple things ive found helpful:

go online orchid shopping with your spouse. this not only makes sure you get plants she will like and take an interest in, but also may save you from going clothes shopping together! i hate that, clothes shopping, that is.

second, get to know the different designations if you don’t already. i mean blooming size, vs seedling. young plant, etc. this will save both of you some initial disappointment.

finally, i would suggest getting some nice, new cross seedlings as well as mature bloomers. this way you get some immediate gratification with the flowers, but also gives you a different take on orchid growing with the seedlings, and a lot of unknown with what they may eventually flower into. i personally find that quite exciting.

oh, and one last thought, if you have the orchid fever, lock up the credit card and throw away the key!!

I was able to find a little glossary of orchid terms, but I'm trying to figure out what is standard lexicon vs what is unique to individual sellers. For example I purchased a sogo x yenlin "coffee" varigata a few days ago. There were two plants, one labelled "X7" and one "X10" and for the life of me I have no idea what that X meant. I wasn't sure if it was part of a controller breeding program where this was the 7th or 10th generation, or something only significant to the grower. So much terminology to learn!

And yes, the credit card is already burning. I had to confess to the wife this morning that I just ordered another orchid...

---------- Post added at 03:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:18 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

Welcome aboard!

I lived in Doylestown for a long time. Look into Main Street Orchids in Perkasie. He’s about a mile west of 313. Mike is a really good guy and a tremendous enabler…. Definitely give him a call, as who knows what the pandemic mess has done to his situation.

I'll have to check him out! I've been trying to find local Orchid specialists but haven't had a ton of luck actually making contact. My in-laws are in Sellersville right nearby! Thank you for the tip!

Also, at some point I'm sure we're going to end up chatting about S/H! I believe other posters have given you credit for a lot of the work with S/H and orchids. I have a background with DWC and Kratky method for some home hydroponic food production, and I see a TON of overlap in the methods. So I'm eager to try it out.

Sadly I had to trash most of my hydroponic stuff after I had a nutrient solution spring a leak and wrecking a rubbermaid bin full of supplies!

Originally Posted by Paphluvr

Welcome to the Orchid Board from someone born on the other side of the river (Fountain Hill, what was then St. Lukes). I still consider Bethlehem my home town, though.

Hey neighbor! We are near the township, basically the opposite end of town. Are you still in the area? I've been reading about a Lehigh Valley Orchid Society, but I haven't gotten around to reaching out to them yet.

Originally Posted by rbarata

Welcome, msarro.

Careful when buying too many or to demanding plants. Think that one day your telecommute finishes and ask yourself if your plants can handle less attention.

Thank you!

Thankfully, that shouldn't be an issue. I have been telecommuting at least 3 days a week for a decade now, so I don't think that is likely to change too much since it would make my job untenable. But it is a fair point, especially considering stuff like vacations...

---------- Post added at 03:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:23 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DeaC

and welcome. Yes...read and read more. Know your growing conditions and stick to it!

I'm working on it! There's just so, so much to learn! But hey, I've got time. That's why it's called a hobby right?

[SADE2020]